Right, I should have made tea by now but my body clock is all to pot with travelling back home last night, so a take away later now seems like a good idea.

This card is made using my newest House Mouse stamp, bought last week to make a card for my son who gets his SQA Highers results this Thurs.

My card uses lovely reversable paper from The Paper Company - it's called Homerule Alphabet. I've also managed to stick on some lovely...hmm what's that neutral coloured stuff called under the ribbon? Never seen it in the UK, but I found it in Germany - so bought a little(LOT!)

Thursday, 28 July 2011

2 nights ago we went to the Blue Max theatre in Berlin, to watch the Blue Man Show! Very loud, but very enjoyable!

They are such tallented guys, both in music and in mime. The show lasted an hour and a half, during which they messed around with drums, pipes, paints & food. I know this doesn´t sound that good, but trust me it was far from dull! Just wish our boys were with us to have seen it - they would have loved it.

Friday, 22 July 2011

Saturday, 16 July 2011

...& this is my final pre-holiday post. My first box using the Hougie Board. It was made for the easel wedding card I made a week or so ago. (I was asked by the family to put snowflakes on it.) I had wanted to make a box instead of squeezing it in an envelope, but I kept putting it off as I wasn't sure how. I then stumbled upon a great link to a tutorial on Do Crafts, directing me to Lee's blog - A Wee Bit of Crafty Loops. A brilliant step by step tutorial & ta-da, job done! Thanks Lee.

Tomorrow I tidy my craft desk - wish me luck! Chat to you all in a couple of weeks, Jx

Another card for passing exams - I hope. This one uses a Tatty Ted stamp and card from the Papeterie. The panel is CB star embossed, and the U Star is made from Doodlebug alphabet beads. Crafty Catz - Tags - Good Luck Tag.Charisma Cards - It's in the Stars.

With the Scottish Open just past and the British Open beginning at the end of the week, I thought it was perfect timing for another golf inspired card. Stamp - Sugar Nellie Paper - Paper Cellar LtdChallenges;Sugar Bowl - Their great sketchA Gem Of A Challenge - Let's Hear It For The Boys Jx

Sunday, 10 July 2011

In the news this week there have been many pieces about the plight of thousands of refugees in East Africa and so an appeal was launched by the Disasters Emergency Commitee to raise funds for charities working in this area. In the mean time, I was planning doing a car boot sale to tidy out our loft a bit & recycle unwanted items

...Putting these two thoughts together, we managed to raise £98 at a car boot sale today (- despite torrential rain!) & so are now going to help the poor people in Africa with a £100 donation. - As you can imagine we are quite pleased with that!

Below is the article on the DEC page, along with a link should you wish more information.

Families saving waterOver 10 million people are at risk in East Africa due to conflict and some areas being affected by the worst drought in 60 years. The DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal will support the work of our members in affected areas of Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan. Your donations can help provide life saving aid such as food, water, care for malnourished children and medical treatment.

Friday, 8 July 2011

I'm one of those people who tries to do a Christmas card a week so I don't have loads to do at the end of the year. It worked well for me last year so I'm repeating the exercise this. That said, a number of regular challenges are also now talking about Christmas after all, Christmas 2012 is now closer than 2011!So, my all white card features a favourite PB stamp, Snowball Fun, coloured with Promarkers, a Dynamics cut snowflake with stickles & a CB snowflake embossed panel.

MAWTT - Christmas in JulyABC Christmas - "N" - No papersI Love Promarkers - Clean & SimpleCraft Us Crazy - Christmas in JulyWinter Wonderland - Red & Green must not be seen - & in case you are concerned this one's quick off the mark, I made it last night but missed the close of the recipe challenge but yipee it also fits this weeks one! Jx

Wednesday, 6 July 2011

Well I was going to stop making cards over the school holidays, but after tennis this morning, I needed an excuse for a seat this afternoon. It wasn't quite Wimbledon standard, but it was 2hours, 3 sets...& then victory to Alan my son. The return match will be scheduled once my "sore bits" improve!

So, onto the card, & a lovely Magna girl by Sugar Nellie. She's been coloured with Promarkers then decorated with a ribbon I got from Kate in candy (Thanks again), Wild Orchid sunflowers, a charm & a doily. The circle greeting is LOTV.

I also want to draw your attention to my side bar post advertising Debbi's candy of THOSE must-have ultra fine nibs! Not only the candy, but I strongly urge you to visit Debbi's blog (if you haven't already done so) cause she is Queen of the Promarkers and has started posting tutorials - and is taking requests for topics to be covered. Thanks for doing this Debbi cause not everyone is as lucky as me and can go to your brilliant classes. Jx

Friday, 1 July 2011

No one would argue that Penny Black are one of the best designers of cute animal stamps, but they are also pretty nifty at the not so cute also!An example of this would be this beautiful bells stamp called Daisy Chime, it's such a simple image, but for me it works really well.It was just perfect for a Wedding card I had to do for a friend who's getting married later in the year. I've teamed it with beautiful Wild Rose Studio Wedding Bells papers and co-ordinating flowers & a ribbon. (Papermania.)Colouring done with Promarkers.